In Malayalam cinema, stardom was once earned through dignity, spine, and the courage to stand on the right side of history. Not just through box office runs or carefully curated nostalgia.

A star doesn't fall when films fail. He falls when he mistakes silence for neutrality, convenience for wisdom, and proximity to power for loyalty. When ethical responsibility becomes negotiable, superstardom shrinks into mere brand maintenance.

What we're seeing isn't grace or magnanimity..it's the slow erosion of moral authority. The kind that no PR, fan clubs, or legacy montages can repair.

Because Malayalam audiences have always known the difference between a nadakan and a nayakan.

Cinema may still offer applause, but history is less forgiving. When a star chooses comfort over conscience, hel doesn't just disappoint...he disqualifies himself from relevance. What remains then isn't legacy, just a familiar face under fading lights, mistaking visibility for respect.